Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Paradise, NV
🏆 Lafayette leads 16 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Paradise
Nevada
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,224
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
189,733 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($234,900 vs $333,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Rent averages $170/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,192)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Paradise
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 105°F
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Paradise, NV
Pros
91% less violent crime than Lafayette
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,800
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lafayette
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 6.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 100.1 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$3,626
$58,850 vs $55,224/yr
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$99k less
$234,900 vs $333,800
Lafayette
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.9% unemployment
Paradise
Violent Crime
91% lower
94.1 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Paradise
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Paradise, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $333,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,192 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $55,224 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 23.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 4.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 189,733 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 39.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Paradise's 100.1 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 16 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 16 and Paradise wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Lafayette to Paradise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $333,800 median home), income ($58,850 vs $55,224), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Paradise, NV are about 1,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.